THIS FASCINATING study of Bhagat Singh, whose centenary was celebrated last year, is topical. He embraced the gallows at the age of 23 years, along with his bosom friends Sukhdev and Rajguru.

In 1928, during a procession against Simon commission, Lala Lajpatrai succumbed to a lathi charge by Sanders, who was later murdered by the trio in retribution. Mahatma Gandhi had great admiration for the valour of Bhagat Singh.

This comprehensive volume, first of its kind, comprises five chapters: the curtain raiser; Bhagat Singhs writings and messages; struggle for justice; letters; and the jail notebook.

They bring out the various facets of his personality. He was a voracious reader in Urdu, Punjabi, and English and his favourite authors were Charles Darwin and Nirmalananda Swami. His writings and messages were emotive and thought-provoking. His jail notes, preserved by his brother Kalbir Singh, discussed a host of issues like Socialism and Marxism.

He believed that a rebellion by farmers and workers alone could herald a socialistic pattern of society.